This is only tangential to doula work, but it made me laugh so hard!
We're teaching a lesson on budget to my kids and I asked them what they think I make as a doula - my 9 year old said, "Seventeen dollars?" My 10 year old said, "I think $20." I asked, "Per HOUR or per birth??" They said per birth.
So I asked how long do they think I'm normally gone for a birth? My son said, "Usually 5 or 6 hours," and my daughter said, "No, like 7 hours."
I can't stop laughing! For the record, I do cost more than $17 and it's incredibly rare that a birth is only 7 hours... not to mention prenatals, postpartum visits, editing photos, etc. I'm glad they think I'm not gone that much. 🙂